Pilot generator



pr 1, 19M. w. R, RAY 2,235,609?

v 1`=1L0T GENERATOR Filed Aug. 15, 1938 1MAL/AM- Q @AK v/N VEA/TOR.

ATTORNEY Patentedpr. 1', 1941 UNITED s l Claims. My present invention relates to thermoelecy -tric generating devices and has for its chief .ob-

ject the provision of a thermoelectric generator which incorporates novel features productive of high efiiciency, compactability, durability andy simplicity of construction.

A particular object of my present invention is the provision of a pilot generator, consisting of the novel combination of a gas pilot burner Qwith an improved thermoelectric generator.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be found in the description, the drawing and the appended claims. y

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had tothe following detailed description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan of the device; e

Figure 3 is an enlarged back elevation, partly broken away, of the device;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the irregular cutting plane 4.-/,6 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is asection taken on the irregular line 5-5 of 3; and

Figures 6 and 7 are sections taken on the lines 6 3 and 1 1, respectively.' of Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the numeral II denotes a bracket secured to a support I2 (not shown in Fig. 3 and sectional Figs. 5-7) as by screws` I3 and bored to receive the upper cylindrical end portion of a hollow hexagonal member I4. 'I'hreadedly connected to said member I4 is a tubular member I5 having an enlarged upper end portion 18. A -ange Ia formed by said enlarged portion I6 serves to secure ceramic disk members I1 and I8, a. ceramic tubular member I9 and a tubular mica spacer to the upper end surface of memberl4 with a cushioning asbestos washer 2| between members I8 and I9.

The lower end portion of member I4 is internally threaded to receive a gas supply conduit 22. An orifice member 23, having a mixing orifice- 24, is threadedly secured in a diametrically reduced portion of the internal side wall of member I4. Passageways provide means for admitting air to be mixed with the gas issuing from orice 24.

Secured to theupper en-d portion I6 of the tubular member I5, by a. screw 26, is a bonnet member 21 having .a chamber 28 with which a pilot burner orifice 29 communicates. A slot 30 is formed in the disk portion 21a of the bonnet member 21 adjacent the orice 29. Communication between the interior of the upper portion I6 of the tubular member I5 and the"chamber 28 is afforded by passageways 3|.

'I'he ceramic members I8 andy I9 are provided with a plurality of aligned passageways to receive wires 32 arranged in pairs, each pair consisting of wires of thermoelectrically dissimilar vmaterial, ysuch las Chromel and Copel and having their upper end portions twisted and fused together to form thermoelectric hot :lunctions or couples 33 concentrically surrounding'y the upper portion I6 of tube I5. The lower end portions of adjacent wires of adjacent pairs are likewise twisted and fused together Ito form thernloelectric cold junctions or couples 36. TheI member 31, having a hexagonal aperturel and slidable on the member i4, has an edge abutting the bracket I I to which it is-secured as by solder, and serves to prevent turning of the member I4 with respect tothe bracket II when the assembled device is screwed onto a conduit 22.

The armored cable 35 is passed through a hole y formed in the rear portion of the disk 31 and is secured therein, as by solder, to prevent breaking of the wire connections in use.

The hot junctions 33 are surrounded and protected by thin tubular cap members 38, of noncorrosive metal such as stainless steel, andare supported in spaced relation to the member I6 in openings formed in the ceramic member I1, which openings are enlarged at their lower ends to receive the flanged lower end portions of the caps 38, which flanges serve to retain said caps in position. The upper surface of member I3 has an annular groove 39 to provide clearance for the twisted lower end portions of the hot junctions or couples 33.

The side wall oi'v theupper portion IB of the tubular fuel supplymember ls ls provided with e. series of radial passageways 40 (Fig. 5) com-4 38, andthe hot junctions or couples within them, are thus heated by the hot outer portions of the flames. If the names were arranged to play directly upon the cap members, part of the cap would beL subjected to the relativelyV cold center portion of the name, whereas by my arrangement that cold portion is between the caps. This arrangement also prevents the formation lof soot on the caps which would tend to decrease the heating effect.

The disk portion 21a of the bonnet member is heated by the couple names, which it tends to spread laterally. The disk 21a, in its heated condition, tends to maintain combustion andU so reduces the possibility of accidental extinction of the flames. In the event of accidental extinction of either the pilot flame or the coupleheating fi es, the slot permits reignition of the one by the other. By loosening the screw 28, the bonnet 21 may be rotated so as' to direct the pilot llame issuing from the oriilce 29 in any desired lateral direction for ignition purposes. By omission` or sealing of the orifice 29, the device may be used as a thermoelectric generator alone,

if so desired. i

To maintain the staggered relation of the ori-v iices 4I with the caps 38, the member I5 is provided with a pin 42 cooperating with .a radial groove 43 formed in the upper surface of the ceramic member I1. Surrounding the ceramic member I9, and positioned between the outerv anges of the members4 I8 and II, is a tubular metallic member M. The length of said cover member 44 is made slightly less than the distance between the anges between which it is positioned, so as to allow for thermal expansion of the member. l

A set-screw 45 serves to secure the members II and I4 in position together, the outer end portion of the set-screw extending through a notch 48 formed in the lower end portion of the cover 1 member M to prevent rotation of that member.

While I have described the members I1, Il

land I9 as being of ceramic material and the member 20- as being-of mica, it is to be understood that any suitable heat-resistant material maybe employed in these members.

It will be seen that, by my invention, I have provided a novel, eiiicient and compact thermoelectric generating apparatus which has particularutility. in connection with thermoelectrically energized devices, such as, forexample, the uid valve device shown and described in the copending application of William A. Ray, Serial No. 172,180, filed November 1, 1937. 'l

While I have shown and described a'preferred embodiment of rnv invention, I wish it to be understood that modifications may be made and that no limitations on the invention are intended than lare imposed by the scope of the appended` claims. A

I claim as my invention: v l. In a deviceof the charactervdescribed. a

.tubular gas burner, means for connecting thelower end of said burner with a supplycf gas, a

l [substantially tubular member of heat-resistant insulatingmaterial surrounding at least a portion olf said lburner and having passageways therein disposed 'in parallel Vrelatiin tothe axis of said burner, and wires insaid passageways, each alternate wire beingcomposedof thermo-y hot Junctions being arranged adiaoent the'upper end of said burner so as to be heated by the llame thereof.

2. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination cfa gas burner having a substantially tubular body and a circumferential row o! orifices in the upper side wall thereof, means for connecting the lower end of said tubular body with a supply of gas, a hollow member of heatresistant insulating material surrounding a lower portion of said tubular body and having pas-l sageways therein disposed in parallel relation to ,the axis of said burner, and wires in said passageways, each alternate wire being composed of thermoelectrically dissimilar metals and the end portions of adjacent wires being joined together to form a thermopile having hot and cold junctions, said h ot junctions being arranged adjacent said oriilces so as tov be heated by the ilames issuing therefrom.

3. In a device of the character described. the combination of a gas pilot'burner having a substantially tubular body and a circumferential row of orifices in the upper side wall thereof, means for connecting the lower end of said. tubular body with a supply of gas, a hollow ceramic member stantlally tubular body 4and a circumferential row of orifices in the upper side wallthereoha pilot burner head on the upper end portion of said tubular body, means connecting the lower end of said tubular body with a supply of gas, a hollow ceramic member surrounding a lower portion of said tubular body and having a concentrically disposed row of passageways .-'therethrough, wires in said pasageways, each alternate wire being composed of thermoeletrically` dissimilar material and the end portions of ad- `jacent wires being joined together to form a thermopile having hot and cold Junctions. and

' protective cap members of noncorrosive inetal on I each of said hotjunctions, said caps being arranged adjacent to said oriiices so as to be heated by the ignited gas issuing therefrom. l

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas pilot burner having a substantially tubular body and a circumferential row of orifices in the upper side wall thereof, a pilot burner head on the upper end portion-of said tubular body, a concentric metallic disk arranged intermediatev of said burner head and said row i ot orifices and extending beyond said tubular l electrically dissimilar metal and the end portions 'of adjacent wires being Joined .together lto form a thermopile having hot and cold junctions, said body, means connecting the lower end of said tubular body with Aa supply of gas, a hollow ceramic member surrounding a lower portion of said tubular body and having a concentrically disposed row of passageways therethrough. and wires in 'said pasageways, each alternate wire being composed of thermoelectrically dissimilar material and the end portions of adjacent wires being joined 4together to form a thermopile having hotv and cold junctions, said Vhot junctions being arranged adiacent to said oriilces so as to be heated by the ignited gas issuing therefrom.

' 'WILLIAM R. RAY. 

